In my second thread on this platform, I introduced a Cisalpine Celt by the name of Eskingoriχs 'warrior king', and somebody said they'd remember the name for their next cat. Well, check this out: <akluśamoualos> = Adklutsamou̯alos 'very most famous prince'. 1/5
This very most beautiful compound name consists of no less than four elements: intensifying ad- (originally the preposition 'to'), kluto- 'famous' (from the pan-IE root *k̑leu̯- 'hear' as in Greek κλέος 'fame' -> k̑lu-tó- 'heard of'), the superlative suffix -(i)samo, ... 2/5
... and u̯alos 'ruler, prince' (from IE *u̯elH- 'to be powerful, to rule'). The name is inscribed on an apparently quite unspectacular gravestone found in 2006 in the necropolis of Dormelletto on the banks of Lago Maggiore – unfortunately, there is no photo available. 3/5
@ChronHib and I agree that the name rather piles it on, even for a specimen of the notoriously grandiose (aristocratic) Celtic naming tradition – but I guess that's exactly why. If all your classmates are called names like Warrior King and Great Banisher, go big or go home. 4/5
.. Is this what they call Historical Sociolinguistics? In any case, more very most bombastic inspiration for pet names coming soon! 5/5
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